Clearfield(R) Extends Product Offering With Licensing Agreement for Pushable Fiber

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Miniflex Technology From Britain Will be Welcomed by U.S. Markets Looking to Reduce Cost of Fiber Deployment

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 13, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clearfield, Inc. (Nasdaq:CLFD), the specialist in fiber management solutions for Fiber to the Premises (FTTp) deployments, today announced an intent to license Britain's Miniflex products and systems. As a key development partner and supplier of the Miniflex product line for the U.S. marketplace, Clearfield will bring the cost-saving benefits of the Miniflex pushable drop-cable solution and extend its application for multi-fiber deployment. When integrated with the Clearview(R) Cassette and the Clearview xPAK, service providers can push multiple fiber assemblies directly into the entire FieldSmart(R) fiber management platform. The product will be on display at the FTTH Conference in Las Vegas, Monday, September 13 in Clearfield's Booth #510.

Reducing the Cost of Fiber Deployment

"Besides Miniflex's innovative approach to fiber drops in the last mile, the multi-fiber applications of their solution aligns perfectly with the modular and flexible capabilities of Clearfield's FieldSmart product line," says Johnny Hill, Chief Operating Officer for Clearfield. "Integrating Miniflex into the Clearview Cassettes and xPAK Cassettes opens up a range of cost and time-saving alternatives to traditional methods of addressing small-count applications of business class services, cell-backhaul, consolidation of splice points, demarcation extensions and fiber exhaust. We are excited to bring this unified solution to the market, addressing our customer challenges in building fiber networks."

"Partnering with Clearfield is an extension of Miniflex's commitment to providing clever industry-leading technology that reduces the cost of fiber deployment," explains Tony Stockman, Managing Director of U.K.-based Miniflex. "While others in the industry continue to use antiquated drop-cable technology that puts fiber at risk by pulling it through a conduit, the Miniflex solution removes the cost of expensive pulling-eyes and associated installation equipment. Now with Clearfield, this same level of cost-saving precision is extended to multi-fiber environments."

About Miniflex FTTH Last Mile and Last 100 ft Solutions

Miniflex teams a high crush resistance microduct with a bend-limiting fiber 3mm mini-duct, delivering fiber to the door while protecting it from micro or macro-bending. There are two elements to the FTTH Solution -- the Tuff Duct(TM) microduct and TuffNut QuikClik SC.

TuffDuct

The velocity-conserving lining of this 10mm microduct provides a smooth core that enables a fiber to be pushed through it with minimal resistance. Serving as an optical fiber raceway, it is constructed in both indoor and outside plant-rated materials.

TuffNut QuikClik SC

Mating a 3mm mini-duct with a Miniflex-patented QuikClik SC pushable connector, the preterminated TuffNut QuickClik cable assembly is pushed (rather than pulled) through the TuffDuct optical raceway, providing the most cost-effective means of installing optical connectivity-- without jeopardizing fiber protection. In addition, long-term reliability of the initial install is protected with minimal restoration costs in the event of a cut fiber or microduct.

The Miniflex technology will integrate seamlessly with the FieldSmart fiber management platform, which includes the FieldSmart Fiber Crossover Distribution System (FxDS) for the inside plant, the FieldSmart Fiber Scablability Center (FSC) outside plant cabinets, the FieldSmart Fiber Delivery Point (FDP) line of access products and the FieldSmart Small Count Delivery (SCD) line of panels and wall boxes.

Availability

Miniflex products are currently shipping from Clearfield through the Company's distribution partners, including Power & Tel, KGP, Border States and Graybar. Please contact your Clearfield representative for more information on ordering for your deployment needs.

About Miniflex

Miniflex designs and markets fiber protection products to an international customer community and is based in Ohio in the U.S. and Suffolk, in the UK. Technical Director Peter Jenkins was formally at BT and designed the BT Access Network. Managing Director Tony Stockman is also CEO of M2FX and Minima Design. Together, Peter and Tony bring years of design experience to the team, making Miniflex an authority on fiber protection technologies. Today, there are millions of meters of Miniflex deployed in cars, and millions more protecting valuable networks for blue chip customers across the world.

About Clearfield, Inc.

Clearfield, Inc. designs the FieldSmart fiber management platform -- the only fiber management platform to be designed around a single architecture for the inside plant, outside plant and access network. Scaling from 12 to 1728 ports, FieldSmart supports a wide range of panel and cabinet configurations, densities, connectors and adapter options, and are offered alongside an assortment of passive optical components. Clearfield provides a complete line of fiber and copper assemblies for inside plant, outside plant and access networks. Clearfield is a public company traded on NASDAQ: CLFD.

The Clearfield, Inc. logo is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7887 

CONTACT:  Clearfield, Inc.
          Gary Young
          612-247-8123
          garydyoung@comcast.net

Released September 13, 2010